Psychomotor Stimulants

Question 1

Cocaine

Answer 1

Alkaloid found in the leaves of the coca shrub (stimulating and hunger-reducing effects).

Question 2

Oral admnistration of cocaine

Answer 2

• Includes coca leaves & beverages. (water soluble).

- Slower absorption.

Question 3

Intranasal administration of cocaine

Answer 3

Slower absorption.

Question 4

Iv Injection administration of cocaine

Answer 4

Extremely rapid absorption & higher concentration.

Question 5

Inhalation administration of cocaine

Answer 5

1) freebasing: conversion of cocaine into its alkaline form to smoke.
2) crack: hardened cocaine/baking soda mixture that is smoked.
- strong addiction potential
- fat soluble –> rapid absorption.

Question 6

Cocathelyene

Answer 6

metabolism produced when alcohol and cocaine produce are taken together.

Question 7

What neurotransmitters does cocaine interact with?

Answer 7

Cocaine blocks the reuptake of DA, NE, and 5-HT.

Question 8

How does cocaine act?

Answer 8

Cocaine binds to transporters & inhibits their function, leading to increased neurotransmitter levels in synaptic cleft & increase in transmission at synapses.

Question 9

Which neurotransmitter is most important in reinforcing value?

Answer 9

Blockade of DA reuptake is most important for cocaine’s stimulating, reinforcing, and addictive properties.

Question 10

Cognitive-Behavioural Effects

Answer 10

• Feelings of euphoria & heightened energy
• Increases sociability & aggressive behaviour.
• Repetitive picking/scratching.
• Cocaine-induced psychosis.

Question 11

Sympathomimetic

Answer 11

cocaine produces symptoms of sympathetic nervous system activation (tachycardia, vasoconstriction, hypertension & hyperthermia).

• more averse effects are seizures, heart failure, stroke, brain hemorrhage.

Question 12

tachycardia

Answer 12

increased heart rate

Question 13

vasoconstriction

Answer 13

narrowing of blood vessels

Question 14

hypertension

Answer 14

increased blood pressure

Question 15

Three Factors Affect Positive Reinforcement

Answer 15

1. ) Bioavailability
2. ) Immediacy
3. ) Baseline DA levels

Question 16

Bioavailability

Answer 16

Once 40 to 60% of DAT occupancy is attained following cocaine administration, individual may feel a drug-induced high.

Question 17

Immediacy

Answer 17

Smoking/Iv injection lead to quick drug entry into the brain & rapid DAT occupancy.

• more likely to produce an intense high than orally/intranasally.

Question 18

Baseline DA levels

Answer 18

high levels of baseline DA release = greater effects of cocaine (because of higher concentration of DA molecules in synaptic cleft).

Question 19

Experimentation

Answer 19

• Use of other drugs may lead to cocaine use.
• People usually begin by taking cocaine intranasally.
• Strong anxiety response may stop further experimentation.

Question 20

Use/Abuse

Answer 20

• 10-15% of initial intranasal users become cocaine abusers.
• Reinforcement may be increased by social responses from friends.
• Legal consequences may inhibit further use.

Question 21

Cocaine binges

Answer 21

periods of repeated cocaine use lasting from hours to days with little/no sleep.

Question 22

Incubation

Answer 22

craving and relapse to cocaine increase overtime.

Question 23

Three Phases of Binges

Answer 23

1. ) Crash → exhaustion & depressed mood.
2. ) Withdrawal → include anhedonia, anergia (lack of energy), anxiety, & growing craving increases risk of relapse.
3. ) Extinction → symptoms subside.

Question 24

Sensitization

Answer 24

Can be caused by just a few exposures.

1. ) induction: sensitization is established
2. ) expression: sensitized response is manifested.

Question 25

Psychosocial treatment programs

Answer 25

counselling designed to educate the user, promote behavioural change, and alleviate some of the problems caused by cocaine abuse.

Question 26

Cognitive behavioural therapy

Answer 26

reconstructing thought processes and training the user either to avoid high-risk situations or employ coping mechanisms to manage these situations.

Question 27

Pharmacotherapy

Answer 27

Medical treatment by means of drugs.

• Targets include DAT, DA, NE, 5-HT, glutamate & GABA.

Question 28

Immunization

Answer 28

vaccines against cocaine, antibodies to bind cocaine molecules to cause less cocaine in the bloodstream.

Question 29

Partial agonists treatment

Answer 29

using amphetamine, methamphetamine, modafinil as replacement for cocaine.

• like methadone maintenance program.

Question 30

Antabuse/Disulfiram

Answer 30

medication for the treatment of alcoholism, helps people addicted to cocaine reduce abuse.

Question 31

What are the Amphetamines?

Answer 31

• Synthetic central nervous system stimulants.

- Includes methamphetamine (speed), and MDMA (XTC).

Question 32

Routes of Administration:

Amphetamine

Answer 32

• Orally → slow absorption (30 min onset).

- IV/SC injection (aka “skin popping/mainlining”).

Question 33

Routes of Administration: Methamphetamine

Answer 33

• Orally, snorted, IV injections, smoking.

- Smoking → very effective route.

Question 34

Pharmacodynamics: Amphetamines

Answer 34

1. ) AMPH molecules enter DA nerve terminals and provoke DA release from vesicles.
2. ) DAT causes reversal of reuptake to release DA into extracellular fluid.
3. ) Massive increase in synaptic DA levels.
4. ) Causes inhibition of metabolism by MAO.

Question 35

Amphetamine street names

Answer 35

uppers, bennies, diet pills.

Question 36

Natural amphetamine substances

Answer 36

ephedrine, cathinone, & mephedrone.